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Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Michigan Votes On Powdered Alcohol Ban

Over the last couple years there has been a lot of talk about powdered alcohol, especially when it comes to the dangers such products would present to teenagers. Powdered alcohol, or Palcohol, is dehydrated alcohol which, when mixed with water, makes a cocktail. In March, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved labeling for Palcohol, made by Lipsmark LLC, Reuters reports. The approval was made despite major concerns from lawmakers and health experts.

Shortly after the approval, a number of states took steps to ban powdered alcohol completely. This week, the Michigan House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a powdered alcohol ban. If the bill is signed by the governor, Michigan would become the 27th state to restrict the sale, distribution or possession of powdered alcohol, according to the article. Michigan Senator Rick Jones sponsored the bill because he feared that powdered alcohol would result alcohol poisoning deaths among young people.

While the makers of Palcohol contend their products are safe, many are concerned that powdered alcohol will be easy for teenagers to conceal and the potential for abuse is high. A University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health found that sixty percent of adults are in favor of a complete ban on powdered alcohol in their state, and 84 percent want to ban online sales.

“Given that several states are considering legislation about powdered alcohol, our poll looked at what the public thinks about this new product,” Dr. Matthew Davis, Director of the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, said in a news release. “The majority of adults agree that powdered alcohol may spell trouble for young people.”